Organised by the Da Nang Department of Publicity and Training, a seminar to discuss more effective measures to promote reading culture amongst local residents took place in the city on Wednesday. 

Youth interested in reading books in a local book shop

According to a recent survey conducted by the Department, pupils from primary to senior levels across the city still show their preference for comic and preference books rather than other types of books on display in their schools’ libraries.

In particular, only 10% of the city’s total senior high school pupils regularly visit libraries whilst the remainder like convenient e-books and tempting social networks.

The survey also revealed that 30% of the city’s total libraries have yet to meet the national requirements regarding reading facilities and equipment.  Also, libraries are now not available in many of Hoa Vang District’s schools.

Addressing the one-day seminar, Mr Bui Van Tieng, the Chairman of the city’s Union of Literature and Arts Associations, emphasised the need for teachers and parents to become bright examples as book lovers for their pupils and children to follow. 

Fully concurring with Mr Tieng, DA NANG Newspaper Deputy Editor-in-Chief Hua Van Hai proposed that teachers and parents should pass the torch of strong passion for reading books, especially literature ones, on children in a bid to promote their reading habit.

Pupils from Thanh Khe District reading books in a local public library

Ms Le Thi Bich Phuong, the Deputy Director of the city’s General Science Library, raised her deep concern over the alarming trend of children’s addiction to social networks, instead of reading useful books.

In an attempt to encourage more pupils to read books, Mr Huynh Van Hoa, the former Director of the city’s Department of Education and Training, highlighted the importance of establishing a national commission for developing reading culture amongst Vietnamese citizens. 

Consisting of representatives from State management agencies, this commission will be in charge of developing long-term reading culture promotion strategies and fulfilling other related tasks. 

Alongside, it is also a good idea to organise more book reading competitions and widely publicise necessary reading skills amongst school-aged children.

An experienced teacher from the Le Quy Don Senior High School for Gifted Students, underlined the significance of establishing more reading clubs in local schools, and placing a bookcase in each class to allow pupils to read books together and conduct book exchanges in an easer manner.

In his remarks, Mr Dang Viet Dung, the Head of the municipal Department of Publicity and Training highlighted the importance of the city’s publicity of books in life, and its introduction of good books and their authors to pupils in order to promote their reading culture in the coming time.